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by Ron Rau on Apr 13, 2020
With data, you can determine when the right time is to conduct a PM on equipment. There are substantial benefits to using data to make these decisions rather than following a strict scheduling approach. Using building data, even obtained remotely, allows you to get the most bang for your buck.
Most building managers manage the preventative maintenance (PM) process on a schedule. Whether they have one building or ten, they select some sort of seasonal or quarterly scheduling process to dispatch techs to sites. But buildings are not all created equal. Some are older than others. Some have environmental differences that impact HVAC systems. Some have equipment in more severe elements than others.
If you assess the actual needs of each of your buildings, you can make better use of your PM spend. Perhaps one location only requires two PMs a year. But another may require as much as six? Using data to schedule PMs ensures techs are skipping buildings that just don't require a PM at the moment and directing them to those buildings that do.
Needlessly sending a tech to a building in good shape:
- Wastes money
- Keeps the tech from attending more urgent requirements.
Not sending a tech to a building that requires attention:
- Incurs additional wear on equipment components, which can lead to costly replacement parts or even a complete replacement
- Can lead to comfort issues for customers and staff
Listening to the Data
If you have performance data that tells you how long units are running and at what efficiently, you can be more selective in servicing your buildings.
The more data you can get on such things as airflow over coils, airflow through filters, etc., you can build an algorithm that looks at the data points remotely, rather than sending out a tech. Analyzing the data ensures you are spending the right amount of money at the right time in the right places.
Accountability
Analyzing remote data on your buildings also enables you to hold techs accountable. For example, you can require that a particular adjustment is carried out on equipment when a tech is on-site. If that adjustment has not been made, you will know they did not visit the site, or they are not carrying out requirements in full. Either scenario means equipment is not being looked after as you are expecting.
Although staying on top of techs may not be a top concern for you, some building managers encounter situations where techs visit a site and simply put filters in trash bins and leave. Having a way to help gauge your techs can be a useful tool.
Maintenance Program Options & Implementing A Predictive Program
Moving Forward
Our energy management solution can get you the data, without the need for any additional hardware installation. We help building and energy managers capture data from their sites and optimize equipment efficiency that reduces energy costs, decreases repair and maintenance spend, and lowers capex by extending the life of assets.
The first thing you can do to manage your PMs better is to start accessing and accumulating the data. Once your program is up and running, you can then get more strategic with the data as you see patterns in the way equipment is running, or not running.
We have been providing Smart Building IoT analytics solutions for over 15 years. Our industry expertise, paired with our capability of connecting to building systems and equipment without additional hardware, brings actionable data to managers into a web-based platform.
For more information on how we can help you manage PMs and energy spend, reach out to us today.
Additional Resources
4 Common Myths of Energy Conservation in Building Management
Getting Back to Basics - 5 Assumptions Setting Back Your Setpoint Strategy
Why The Setpoint Is Not The Zone Temp
Spotlight on Energy Savings in Grocery, Retail, and Healthcare